Ubisoft Faces Financial Scrutiny Amid Assassin's Creed Shadows Scandal

Ubisoft is currently exploring the creation of a new company aimed at attracting investors, with a focus on selling key franchises like Assassin's Creed. According to Bloomberg, the company is planning to sell a stake in this new entity and has initiated discussions with potential investors, including Tencent and various international and French funds. The anticipated market value of this new company is projected to surpass Ubisoft's current market capitalization of $1.8 billion.

However, the process remains in the discussion phase, and Ubisoft has not yet finalized its decision. The company may opt to abandon the plan entirely, with the outcome hinging on the success of the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, for which Ubisoft has high expectations. Pre-orders for the game are reportedly progressing well.

Amidst these developments, Ubisoft faces another controversy in Japan over the depiction of religious themes in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Takeshi Nagase, a member of the Kobe City Council and the Hyogo Prefectural Assembly, has voiced strong criticism regarding the game's portrayal of religious elements. Nagase finds it unacceptable that the game's protagonist can attack monks in temples or target such sacred spaces with arrows. He also objects to the depiction of the renowned Engyō-ji temple in Himeji, where the character Yasuke is shown entering with dirty shoes and destroying a sacred mirror within.